By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
WICHITA – Nolan Wilson allowed just two hits in six shutout innings and the Hays Larks bats came alive late, as they took down the Lonestar Baseball Club 9-0 Tuesday at the NBC World Series in Wichita at Eck Stadium.
With the win the Larks (31-8) finished 3-0 in pool play and earned a first-round bye in bracket play. They will return to action on Thursday in the quarterfinals.
After both teams were sat down in order in the first inning, the Larks broke through on the scoreboard first scoring two runs in the top of the second inning.
Will Carpenter doubled home a run putting Hays up 1-0 and then Tabor Stokes followed with an RBI double of his own for a 2-0 Larks lead through an inning and a half.
Stokes then singled home a run in the fourth inning as Hays extended their lead to 3-0. Two innings later he added his second RBI single giving Hays the 4-0 lead.
The Larks then blew the game open for good in the ninth inning when the sent 10 men to the plate and scored five runs for a 9-0 lead.
Garrett Gruell got the scoring started with an RBI single with the bases loaded. Thomas Lyssy followed with a two-run ground rule double making it 7-0 Hays.
Two batters later Will Carpenter doubled in two more putting Hays up 9-0.
For the second time in the tournament the Larks pitching staff combined on a shutout.
Starter Nolen Wilson (8-0) scattered just two hits over six shutout innings. He finished with eight strikeouts.
Carpenter doubled three times and was three-for-four with three RBIs. Tabor Stokes was three-for-four with a double and three RBIs.
As winners of pool D the Larks will get Wednesday off and a bye in the first round of bracket play.
Their Thursday quarterfinal opponent has not yet been determined.